Fish get their Omega-3’s from Algae Oil!
Of all the research we put into finding the ideal balanced plant based dog food for our dog Ruff; finding this natural Omega-3 Algae oil is probably our best discovery!
We have all taken fish oils (and fed them to our dogs), and our grandparents all took cod liver oil when they were younger as we all know the benefits of Omega-3’s, but WHY NOT EAT THE OMEGA-3 DIRECTLY FROM THE HEALTHY ALGAE WHERE THE FISH GET IT FROM?
This ensures that it can be sustainably sourced and farmed and each capsule or tsp contains none of the cod liver oil fishy aftertaste; it is completely heavy metal free with no contaminants that fish may have in their livers; and it means that it does not contribute to the problem of overfishing! There is no such thing as sustainable fishing and we so badly need to protect our oceans.
Apparently fish oils need 5 to 6 industrial treatments to get rid of the contamination of heavy metals like mercury and PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls). Omega-3 algae oils are sustainably sourced and grown in large bio-reactors on land (mainly Holland) from the Schizochytrium species of fresh microalgae. We cannot think of a healthier form of ‘farming’ using chlorophyll-rich algae in large greenhouses producing all that life-saving oxygen!
As a family, we each take a capsule of algae oil a day. Our son has suffered from eczema all his life, but since taking an algae oil capsule a day, his symptoms of itching and redness around his eyes and elbows (at its worst when he is stressed), have gone completely!! He took fish oils for many years while at university and they never had such a profound effect as the algae oil have had – we are thrilled!
What a find!
They are an integral part of cell membranes throughout the body and affect the function of the cell receptors in these membranes. They provide the starting point for making hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation.
Omega 3 fats have been shown to control heart disease in dogs such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels as well as prevent it in susceptible dogs such as Golden Retrievers and other breeds. These fats may also play protective roles in cancer and other inflammatory conditions – especially allergic skin conditions and arthritis in our dear elderly dogs! Remember; Omega 3 fatty acids have to be supplied in the diet – our pets cannot make them from other sources.
What about soaked flaxseeds as an Omega 3 source in our dogs?
So much of the older literature and thinking with plant-based feeding in our dogs uses soaked flaxseeds, not Algae oil as an Omega 3 source. Flaxseeds are high in ALA form of Omega 3 that needs to be converted in our dog’s body into EPA and DHA to be effective. This conversion does not take place properly in dogs, so they actually miss out on the all important EPA and DHA needed if only fed seeds rather than pure versions of EPA and DHA from Algae oil!
What is the only side-effect of Omega-3 DHA in dogs and in humans?
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in Omega-3 can raise total cholesterol in both humans and dogs when taken as an extra supplement. Vets (and hopefully human surgeons) advise that patients due to undergo any operation or dental procedure that is planned, stop taking the supplements about a week prior to the operation and a week after the operation as this lowering of total cholesterol can cause prolonged bleeding times.
This is usually advised by vets and human surgeons when they know their patients take extra fish oil supplements and in this instance the same applies to Omega-3 Algae oil capsules.
